Fountain Hills resident Bethany Culp has filed a complaint with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office alleging violations of the Arizona Open Meetings Law when Mayor Gerry Friedel cleared the council chambers in what he characterized as restoring order to the meeting.
The complaint, submitted by Culp on Nov. 21, states, “…. Friedel violated provisions of the Arizona Open Meeting Law when without explanation or justification he directed (Maricopa County Sheriff’s) deputies in attendance to remove all members of the public from the town council chambers.
“At no time prior to or after issuing this direction did Friedel advise the public why they were being ordered to leave the town council chamber.”
